Improvement in stocks for fire-arms



J. V. MEIGS.

S-tock for Fire-Arms.

Patented March 16, 1875.

` Ing/enar w M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOE V. MEIGS, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOCKS FOR FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,935, dated March 16, 1876; application filed May 16, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOE V. MEIGs, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Stocks for Magazine and other FireArms, of which the following is a specification:

The objects of my invention are to prevent the hands of a person using a gun from being burned when the stock or barrel is heated from firing, to enable the user to grasp the gun firmly, and to strengthen the stock and prevent it from being injured by the heat from the barrel.

The improvements claimed are hereinafterl set forth, and are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a stock and barrel, with asbestus and cord applied thereto; Fig. 2, a similar section, showing a cord-Wrapped stock; Fig. 3, a similar sect-ion of the end of the stock and barrel, showing a Way of uniting these parts and attaching a sight; Fig. 4, a vertical transverse section on the line z z of Fig. 1 Fig. 5, a similar section on the line y y of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a similar section, showing the non-conducting material as applied to the inside of the stock or between the stock and barrel.

A barrel or barrels, B, is connected to a stock, S, made of wood or other suitable material, such as papier-mach or vulcanized rubber. A wrapping of cord, O, covers the stock,

prevents the heating of the hands, and ai'ords a firm grasp. When a portion of the barrel is exposed, as when the stock only partially iucloses it, this Wrapping covers such exposed part of the barrel for a suitable distance. The stock, unwrapped and surrounding the barrel, answers a good purpose in protecting the hands from the heated barrel. The wrapping strengthens the stock and prevents its cracking from the heat of the barrel in those guus capable of being fired with great rapidity, and for such guns is preferable. A layer or coating of asbestus, A, or other non-conducting material may be interposed between the stock and its wrappin g, the wrapping serving to re"- tain the asbestus in place and preventing the contact of the hand therewith. The stock may be secured to the barrel by means of asight, Gr, the open frame or body ot' which embraces the barrel and stock and is retained in place by a screw, L, and strengthening-piece M.

To prevent the stock itself from being burned or injured by the heated barrel, it is lined with asbestus A or other non-conducting substance, (see Fig. 6,) the stock being cut away or grooved or otherwise suitably adapted to receive the asbest-us, in which the barrel is embedded.

Surrounding a portion of the barrel at or near the receiver for the breech mechanism with the wood or other material of which the stock is composed answers quite well in those guns not capable of a very great number of shots in rapid succession. It is not necessary that the stock or non-conducting material shall cover the barrel completely, provided that it covers it suiciently to protect the hands in using the gun.

I claim as my inventionl. A. gun-stock or imperfect conductor surrounding a gun-barrel, to prevent burning the hands when the barrel is heated, substantially as set forth.

2. The method herein described of protecting a gun-stock from being injured by heat from .the barrel, by means of noncondncting material interposed between the stock and barrel, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a barrel, a stock surrounding the barrel, and nou-conducting material interposed between the stock and the barrel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOE V. MEIGS. 

